Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Chennai Tamil Nadu is a University recognised by UGC. Status: Open University (Offering Distance Learning Educat. Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Chennai Tamil Nadu was established on / in 2002.

Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) is situated in Chennai of Tamil Nadu state (Province) in India. This data has been provided by www.punjabcolleges.com. Chennai comes under Chennai (Madras) Tehsil, Chennai District.

Bachelor of Computer Applications -BCA for Diploma Students of Polytechnic College .
The various Diploma courses available are as follows
1. Post graduate diploma in spoken English -PGDSE
2. Diploma in food production
3. Diploma in management-DIM
4. Diploma in bakery and confectionery
5. Post graduate diploma in computer application -PGDCA

The various Certificate courses available here are as follows
1. Certificate Program in Empowering Women through Self-Help Groups -CWDL
2. Certificate Program in Environmental Science.
3. Certificate Program in Rural Development -CRD
4. Certificate Program in Teaching of English-CTE
5. Certificate Program in Teaching of Primary School Mathematics-CTPM
6. Certificate Program in Food and Nutrition- CFN.
7. Certificate Program in Computer Application- CAS

The TNOU has packed the course module for different segments under different schools of education which are mentioned below

School of Continuing Education: This encapsulates the various certificate and vocational diploma courses of TNOU.

TNOU School of Education
This school covers the following courses
* Professional Development Pro gramme for Teachers.
* Certificate Program in Methods of Teaching in History and Geography( CTHG )
* Certificate Program in Methods of Teaching in Mathematics ( CTM )
* Certificate Program in Methods of Teaching in Tamil ( CTT )
* Certificate Program in Methods of Teaching in Biological Science ( CTBS )
* Certificate Program in Methods of Teaching in English ( CTE)
* Certificate Program in Methods of Teaching in Physical Science ( CTPS )
* M. Ed.
* Ph. D

School of Computer Sciences
School of Social Sciences
The course that are on the offer are as follows: B. Com,M.A. (, History, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Public Administration, and Sociology ),M. Com,B.A. (Public Administration and Tourism Studies, Economics, History ),M. Sc (Psychology),M. Phil ( Public Administration, Psychology and Sociology, Commerce, History, Political Science) .

School of Sciences
This school is currently offering courses like M. Phil (Mathematics )and B. Sc (Mathematics).

School of Health Sciences
School of Management Studies
This school offers the following courses
* Bachelor of Business Administration B.B.A.(In Tamil and English).
* Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with specialization in the following segments
1. Human Resource Management
2. Marketing Management
3. Insurance Management
4. Information Technology Management. Financial Management
5. Operations Management

# M. Phil in Management is also provided by TNOU.

School of Tamil and Cultural Studies
This school provides the pro grammes like M. Phil,,B .Lit, M.A.,B.A.

School of Humanities
This school provides the courses like B.A. English, Post-Graduate Diploma in Spoken English (PGDSE),M.A. English, M. Phil. English.

Admission Procedure at Tamil Nadu Open University
The TNOU provides spot admission at its various centers in Coimbatore,Madurai, Gandhigram, Tirunelveli, Vellore, etc There are 34 counseling and study centers in Tamil Nadu out which 11 are exclusively study centers. Advertisements are published in the leading dailies of India for admission. The candidates are required to carry the following documents for spot admissions.
One self attested passport size photograph should be pasted in the form .
One should also carry attested photocopies of certificates of educational qualification ,birth certificates, certificate of category, address proof, passport size photographs, etc.

SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
SCHOOL OF POLITICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
SCHOOL OF SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF TAMIL AND CULTURAL STUDIES

About University
Establishment of TNOU : The Tamil Nadu Open University was established by an Act (No.27 of 2002) of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Tamil Nadu to benefit those who have been deprived of and/or denied the access to higher education especially destitute, physically challenged, working men and women, economically weaker sections of the society, and those who discontinued education for various reasons, etc. In the main, it aims to reach the hitherto unreached. The University offers many Programmes in various disciplines.

The Distance Education Council, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) paid rich tributes to the Government of Tamil Nadu for having established TNOU thus:

Given the geographical extent, population and actual need of Tamil Nadu, the setting up of Tamil Nadu Open University by the Government of Tamil Nadu is the right step. We appreciate the Government of Tamil Nadu for having taken this bold and knowledgeable step. This step of the Government of Tamil Nadu shall prove a boon for women, physically challenged, rural poor and marganalised sections of the society and we are committed to support it academically as well as financially. In a short period of six months, Tamil Nadu Open University has done a remarkable work. The University, we understand has initiated steps for recruitment and the announcement of programmes, both of which would not have been possible without considerable ground work and are really commendable. We are sure the action of Government of Tamil Nadu will help us increase enrolments and move towards the targets of 10th Plan."

The University
1.1 Introduction
The Tamil Nadu Open University was established in 2002 by an Act (No.27 of 2002) of Tamil Nadu Legislature, with the objective of introducing and promoting Open University and Distance Education systems in the educational scenario of Tamil Nadu.

1.2 Objectives
* To design an innovative system of good quality University Education that is flexible not only with respect to entry criteria, but also with respect to what to learn, when to learn and how to learn.

* To design and provide local specific employment oriented programmes.

* To provide a "second chance" to those who had to discontinue their formal education for reasons of their own.

1.4 Instructional System
The current system of instruction at TNOU comprises the following:
* Printed materials in self-learning format.
* Face-to-face contact classes in the form of counselling/tutoring sessions.
* Continuous assessment of learner progress through assignments.
* Term-end examinations.

Computer-media materials including interactive CDs, teleconferencing sessions, radio interactive, phone-in sessions, etc., are being planned to add value to the Courses and enrich the learning experience of the learners.

Instructional transactions are effected with the help of techniques appropriate to distance learning and enriched by capitalizing on the ones that may maximize the effectiveness of such transactions and are easily available to TNOU. Didactic interaction is provided by a variety of techniques/means. For example, the self-learning study materials have ample in-text questions and advance organizers, access devices, learner activities and self-check questions, which work as in-built devices for academic interaction, however simulated it may be; carefully created assignment-questions, assignment-responses and the teaching type tutor-comments thereon constitute another level of academic interaction; tutorials, whether face-to-face, on the network or by correspondence/e-mail/telephone, constitute yet another means of such interaction and a judicious use of appropriate technology contributes to sustain the quality.

However, note that only limited face-to-face instruction will be available to DE students and, in certain cases, there may be no face-to face instruction at all. In the main, the number of such sessions depends mainly on the requirements of the Course.

Assignments are used for purposes of enhancing interaction as well as assessment of learning outcomes. Generally, assignments will reflect Course objectives and the style and form of term-end examination. The instructions accompanying the assignments will advise about the dates of submission (for assignment-responses) and explicitly outline the scope and extent of responses expected from the learners. In addition, the assignments will comprise short answer questions (to cover the course content), essay type questions (to support and assess cognition), application type questions (to support and assess applications of what is supposed to have been learnt) and any other subject-specific items. Assignments will generally be delivered to learners along with the course materials as pullouts so that they may be changed every year. Depending on the Course-requirements, assignments will carry a certain weight for final assessment. In order to ensure uniformity in assessing the assignment-responses, tutors/examiners will generally be supplied with marking schemes to assess them.

Unit Design
Notice that each of the Units in your booklets begins with an OVERVIEW, followed by a set of LEARNING OBJECTIVES, and ends with a SUMMARY. The Unit-outline is presented under STRUCTURE. These, among others, should help you access the materials with ease. A word about each of these is in order here.

Structure:
Pay attention to Unit-structures, if you want to get a clear picture of the Course as a whole and a Unit in particular. From the way the Unit is structured, you will easily deduce the relative importance of the topics in the context of that particular Unit. In other words, you will know how the Unit writer has arranged the topics for you.

In technical terms, STRUCTURE represents the concept map of the Unit. That is, it gives you an idea as to how the content has been visualized and sequenced by the writer, and this helps you read and comprehend the materials better. Notice the numbering scheme. Evidently, the Units are divided into structural and thematic (topic) sections and only thematic sections are numbered. They are numbered in the sequence using one point, e.g., 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and so on. In this example, the left digit (i.e., 2) denotes the Unit number and the digit on the right hand side of the point denotes the section number, i.e., the first thematic section of Unit 2, the second thematic section of Unit 2 and so on. Similarly, a thematic section may be divided into subsections using two points. Under Section 2.3 above, the subsections could be 2.3.1, 2.3.2 and 2.3.3. Each number conveys a meaning in terms of a Unit or a section or a subsection. For example, in the case of 2.3.2, 2 stands for the Unit, 3 stands for the section and 2 for the subsection. In other words, it indicates the second subsection of the third thematic section of Unit 2.

Numbering has been kept only at two points - beyond which it will look structurally clumsy. However, where subsections are further divided, they have been indicated in the materials with appropriate type sizes and/or typefaces.

Overview:
Besides giving an overview of the topic of discussion, this section provides you with a link across the Units. Look also for study-advice in this section.

Learning Objectives:
This section states what you will be able to do after working through the Units. In fact, you can compare your progress with the expected learning outcomes specified in this section. If you could not achieve the objectives, reflect on why you could not achieve them. To identify the problem or the solution, keep in touch with your academic-counsellor, fellow learners and of course the Student Support Services Division. Do not hesitate to do this.

Summary:
While recapitulating the current Unit-content, this section gives you an idea about the Unit that follows as well, and to that extent it prepares you for the next Unit.

Besides, these structural and thematic sections, there are a few LEARNING ACTIVITIES in the materials.

Learning activities:
Each Unit has a few questions under the title LEARNING ACTIVITY. These Activities are essentially for self-assessment and are presented in a box. Each question is followed by an answer-space for you to write the answer. Once you complete writing your own answers, you can compare them with the ones given at the end of each Unit. So, you get an immediate feedback as to whether you have answered the questions correctly or otherwise.

Remember to write your own answers before checking them with those at the end of each Unit. You may, however, discuss with your friends and conceptualize the answer. The purposes of self-assessment questions are varied ranging from breaking monotony of continuous reading to reflective thinking.

Margin space:
All Units have wider margin space. Use these margins to make notes. Jot down important points on the margins as you read. Along with STRUCTURE, OVERVIEW and SUMMARY, your jottings on the margins help you save time during revision - you need not have to go through each and every paragraph to understand what is presented in these sections.Introduction
Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) has been established under an Act of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly in October 2002. The varsity started its operation in 2003. Initially it offered 20 programmes under various fields. At present, TNOU is offering some more than 60 Programmes in various study disciplines.

TNOU has completed only five years of its existence but it has shown significant progress in teaching and research. About 25,000 Students is now attaining higher education from the University at their doorstep.

TNOU is the only institution in Tamil Nadu eligible for accessing the scholarships available through the South Asian Foundation (SAF). In other words, TNOU students are the only students in Tamil Nadu to get this scholarship worth Rs. 4, 500 each.

Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai was established by an act of the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2002 to provide education to the people who are deprived of higher education like physically challenged people, economically weaker strata of the society, etc.Vission And Mission
Vision : Tamil Nadu Open University shall make available innovative, socially-relevant educational provisions that are learner-centred, seamless and are of high-quality by employing appropriate technologies to achieve equity in education, sustainable social transformation and composite national development.

Mission : Towards becoming a Centre of Excellence in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) by offering quality programs to meet the current and emerging needs of the adult population, by widening the access to higher education and by functioning as a catalyst to bridge social, including digital divides and to build a developed India, Tamil Nadu Open University shall:

# Become a digital repository for ODL in the State facilitating Research and Development for new knowledge creation.

# Coordinate and implement standards in ODL.History
Tamil Nadu Open University was established in October 2002, by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. However, it started functioning in the year 2003. The main campus of the University is located at the Directorate of Technical Education Campus, Guindy.

Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), established in 2002, is the tenth state open University to be established in the whole of India. Established by an Act (No.27 of 2002) of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, the University aims to provide access to higher education through distance mode to a large segment of people. Persons deprived of access to higher education for various reasons have been benefited by the University.
The Tamil Nadu Open University was established by an Act (No.27 of 2002) of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Tamil Nadu to benefit those who have been deprived of and/or denied the access to higher education especially destitute, physically challenged, working men and women, economically weaker sections of the society, and those who discontinued education for various reasons, etc. In the main, it aims to reach the hitherto unreached. The University offers many Programmes in various disciplines.

The efforts of independent learning would be adequately supported through Study Centres, which have been identified in 10 important towns of Tamil Nadu, viz., Chennai, Viluppuram, Trichy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Salem, Coimbatore and Nagapattinam. The University has also established 334 Information Centres at Taluk Levels, to enable those who are longing for but are forced to remain away from the folds of Higher Education. In all the Study and Information Centres week-end counselling sessions will be organized regularly through experienced faculties to ensure student-faculty interaction and for processing of the assignments submitted by the students for internal assessment With the approval of Government of Tamil Nadu we have launched MBA, Post-Graduate Diploma in Management, Diploma in Management, MA (English, Tamil, History, Economics, Sociology, Public Administration, Political Science and Psychology), M.Com., M.C.A., B.Com., B.A., (English, Tamil, History, Economics and Tourism), B.C.A. Post-Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications, and Certificate programmes in Computing (CIC), Environmental Sciences (CES), Rural Development (CRD), Food & Nutrition (CFN), Teaching Primary School Mathematics (CTPM), Empowering Women through Self-Help Groups (CWDL) Desk Top Printing (DTP), House Electrician (CHE), Plumbing Technician (CPT), Catering Assistant (CCA), Refrigeration & Air-Conditions Technician (CRAT) and Four Wheeler Mechanic (CFM) for the academic year 2004-2005.

All the programmes will have a built-in flexibility to facilitate "mobility" of students by means of credit-based structures. Due recognition and exemption in terms of credits would be given for the courses completed elsewhere. Entry requirements would be relaxed for graduate programmes (B.A. and B.Com.) to facilitate those aspirants who have not formally pursued any programme so far in order to enable them to pursue a course of study of their choice. However, to maintain standards and ensure quality, the students who seek relaxed entry provisions would be required to complete successfully a specially designed preparatory programmes namely Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP), concurrently with B.A./B.Com degree as the case may be.

The University has also been recognised internationally when the University became a member of South Asian Foundation and Asian Association of Open Universities. The memberships will help the University to share the resources on Distance Education scheme throughout Asia. Besides, the University has been recognised by Govaty Foundation of France and has awarded ' France India Heritage' recently.

The Distance Education Council of Indira Gandhi National Open University, the apex body for all the Open and Distance Education Institutions in the country is mandated to promote ODL system in the country inter alia by liberally sanctioning Development Grants to Open and Distance learning institutions in the country. The proposal of Tamil Nadu Open University for Development Grant received top priority of Distance Education Council. Accordingly, a three member Committee visited TNOU to assess the financial requirements and after making an objective assessment, based on the report of the Committee, Distance Education Council sanctioned Rs. 55.50 lakhs towards Development Grant to Tamil Nadu Open University.

Launching of all programmes in Tamil, designing, developing and printing of all its study materials and producing its own educational audio/video cassettes are also in the offing. With the supports of Tamil Nadu Government and the Distance Education Council the University will grow in leaps and bounds in the coming days, thereby fulfilling the aspirations and expectations of Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to give cost effective Higher Education to all those masses who were denied so far, and reach every nook and corner, hitherto un- reached in the State of Tamil Nadu. Obviously, the dreams Of TNOU is to put Tamil Nadu in a predominant position on the educational map of India will come true.Placement
Placement Cell of our Institute is headed by Mr.Chidambaram. He is a well experienced person in Human Resources Development. Our Students are placements in India and abroad.

* Interview Questions
* Interview Tips
* Resume Guide

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Shortlisted Candidates (from the written Aptitude test), will be called in for the interview. There are two kinds of interviews, the technical one and the HR one.

* Technical Interview - Here your depth of knowledge in the fundamentals of the core subject will be put to test.

At the end of the interview they ask whether you have any questions to ask them. It is better to stick to one or two questions regarding the company and not dwelve into how you performed or the pay package or any personal questions to the interviewer.

INTERVIEW TIPS
Interview is just a formal talk with the interviewer, in which he tries to know about you, your technical and personal skills. The interview might last for 10 to 60 minutes. You must make the interviewer feel that you are the best fit for that job.

UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR FEARS CAN AFFECT YOUR PERFORMANCE

SAMPLE CASE 1:
Meena was very tense as she entered the interview room. She managed to greet the employer as planned. She was then invited to take a seat. Being very nervous, she was not careful and soon she dropped his file containing his certificates. The next few minutes were spent gathering the certificates and trying to arrange them. Meena was very upset. The interviewer made an effort to ease the situation.

Unfortunately, Meena kept thinking only about the incident and how she had made a fool of himself. She was so upset that she could not collect her thoughts and was hesitant with her answers. There were nine more candidates in line. It did not take the interviewer long to reject the rattled Meena.

SAMPLE CASE 2:
Suresh was nervous about the interview. His dad, who realised that he was tense, encouraged him to think positive (and to have a good night's sleep). He told him that it was important for him to consider the interview as only the beginning of his job search. He told him to face the interview as an opportunity to project his strengths. He persuaded Suresh to give of his best inspite of his nervousness.

During his interview, Suresh made an effort to smile at the interviewer, took time to reflect on the questions before answering. His body language also reflected a poised, calm demeanor. When the stress interview began, he was not easily rattled. His positive thinking enabled him to think clearly and be effective. The interviewer picked up the positive traits and in return responded more positively, and Suresh was selected.

If you think you canï¿½..you can !
If you think you cannotï¿½.. you cannot !!!

Hope that this article provokes you in having a positive outlook to life which in turn will definitely help you get the right job.

Some Tips to keep in mind :
* Even if you have experienced failure in the past, which has eroded your self-confidence, you have to learn to overcome it.

* Remember that failure was under certain circumstances. Today you can learn from your past so that you can taste success in the future.

* The image you carry about yourself is affected by past experiences. Instead of living in the past learn to rewrite the beliefs about yourself.

* You need to unlearn your past habits and acquire new ones that reinforce a positive self-esteem.

* Always remember its a sort of formal occassion and never get too informal, like accepting interviewers offer for a smoke or drink.

* Be cool and don't get nervous.Try to be pleasant, alert and mantain eye contact. If u cant hold your own in technical questions try to remain composed ;your confidence may do the trick.

* Try to maintain a good rapport with the interviewer and get him to ask questions regarding the subjects you are strong in.

* Maintain eye contact from the begining and dont act in a manner so that the interviewer is distracted which for example can be caused by flashy dresses ,exaggerated arm movements or you shifting in your chair.

* Give them the impression that you are going to stay with the company for atleast 3 to 5 years. Never mention anything concerning GRE/CAT/GATE etc.

* Never try to bluff your way through an interview. The interviewers would be able catch on to it fast.

RESUME GUIDE
Resume must be precise, and should not bear any unwanted information like family details, languages known etc. What should be in your resume is, your qualification, area of interest, industrial exposure, professional experience, projects done, ceritifications (if any), extra curricular activities, your hobbies and any other thing that you can impress with.

Guidelines for preparing a Resume.
1. What is a well written Resume?
* Comprehensive and conveys all the important details at a glance.
* Grabs the interest of the employer.
* Enables the prospective employer to form a good first impression.
* Sets the tone of discussion during the interview.
* Is SIMPLE, ACCURATE, COMPLETE in information.

2. How do I start my Resume?
It is desirable if you start your resume with a statement of career objective. It should be relevant to the organisation and the job you are applying for. It should state clearly the type of work you desire to do and the specific strengths that make you qualify for the job and add value to the organisation.

3. My Resume is very lengthy, Please Help.
Nobody wants to read long resumes, especially an employer who has very little time to spare. Try to be concise and to the point.

Therefore, it is preferable to use phrases instead of full sentences wherever possible.
You may present only relevant information in your resume.

It is desirable to use correct words that accurately communicate what you intend to say.

4. Can you suggest techniques to make the Resume style effective?
Quantify your results and experience - Avoid using generic terms to describe your work experience. Quantify your experience and results, using concrete figures. This would draw the employer's attention on what you have actually achieved.

Ensure good presentation - The style of presentation can help make your resume look good or bad. Never neglect the overall appearance of the resume. Focus on the basics like legibility, accuracy and completeness of information provided. The resume must reflect a professional touch.
The resume must convey a positive, can-do attitude - Having the right attitude is sometimes as important as knowledge or skills.

5. What are the common mistakes a candidate should look for during proof reading?
* Big words or words that are too technical or bombastic.
* Errors (check for spelling, punctuation and typographical errors).
* Avoid mentioning family particulars in your resume, as they are irrelevant to your employer.
* Avoid mentioning your salary expectations as you might over reach or undersell yourself out of a job.
* It is advisable if you proofread your resume more than once.Educational Streams
Tamil Nadu Open University offers more than 60 programmes in various disciplines that include professional, postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma, certificate and vocational. Being an open university, the system of instruction at TNOU comprises of printed materials in self-learning format and face-to-face contact classes in the form of counseling / tutoring sessions. The evaluation process is based on continuous assessment of learner progress through assignments and term-end examinations. TNOU has the credit of being the only educational organization in Tamil Nadu that is eligible for accessing the scholarships available through the South Asian Foundation (SAF).

Facilities
TNOU provides all the requisite facilities for the purpose of imparting distance education. Students can avail facilities like computer-media materials including interactive CDs, teleconferencing sessions, radio interactive, phone-in sessions, etc. Besides this, it has a Student Support Services Division that takes care of the educational needs of the students of TNOU. It has also established a Material Production and Distribution Division that takes care of the delivery of study material to all registered students and sale of prospectus/application forms and other miscellaneous items.Faculties/Departments
* School of Continuing Education
* School of Education
* School of Humanities
* School of Management Studies
* School of Social Sciences
* School of Sciences
* School of Health Sciences
* School of Computer Sciences
* School of Tamil and Cultural Studies
* School of Politics and Public Administration
* School of Journalism and New Media Studies

Job placements for TNOU grads

With an aim to help students pursuing education in community colleges affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) the university has joined hands with directorate of employment and training for conducting campus placements for the students.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the universitys convocation, Prof. Kalyani Anbuchelvan, vice-chancellor of the university said that there were about 140 community colleges in the state in which about 10,000 students are studying. We want to help students get placed in a company and earn their livelihood. The directorate of employment and training has come forward to conduct campus placement in association with private companies, she said.

The vice-chancellor also informed that the university had proposed to approve 38 community colleges in the state, besides setting up universitys study centre at Dubai.

We have also received request from people in London for starting our universitys study centre in the city, she said.

Prof. Anbuchelvan pointed out that for the first time the university will be providing compact discs, which will contain contents in electronic form, in addition to printed materials.

We have launched streaming of educational programmes through Internet and to enhance the quality of production, she said.
Summary: Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Chennai Tamil Nadu website, mobile, contact address and approval / recognition details.